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Madison’s POV
“A crown should be sitting on your head,” Georgia teased after she was done making my hair.
“Oh, please,”
“Now, time for the final touch,” she said, and grabbed the lace gloves lying on the table. I sighed and reluctantly stretched my hands toward her. “You look like you don’t want to put them on,”
“Do you want me to be honest with you?” I arched a brow.
“You hate them. They would make you look so formal,” She replied.
I threw my back against the chair. “There you have it. Everything feels so awkward and formal. The dress, the make-up, the gloves and..” I cupped my face with my hands.
I felt Georgia’s warm hand gracing my back.
Shit!
She had put a lot of effort into dolling me up this morning. I can’t just speak so badly about the situation. I lifted my head. “I’m sorry, Georgia,”
“It’s okay,” she replied with a smile. “I understand how you feel, Madison. You must be overwhelmed. I mean taking a new name and a title as an adult is not something one would adapt to in an instant.”
I sighed. “Do I have any choice? They’ll be addressing me as Eleanor now,”
Georgia came forward and stood before me. “You make it sound so bad. You’re a lady now. A lot of women would kill to be in your position,”
I smiled.
A knock landed on my door and Ferdinand cleared his throat loudly. “The Lady and Lord are waiting,”
“We’ll be out in a minute,” Georgia responded. She cleared her throat loudly and helped me get up from the chair. “It’s time,”
I nodded and stood up. She held my hand and led me outside the room, my long dress, trailing behind.
When we reached the hallway, I saw a group of people, men and women on each side. The men were dressed like British soldiers and they were on one side of the room. About six women, dressed in a uniform that signified they were maidens stood opposite them.
Everyone lowered their heads the moment Georgia and I appeared. She turned to me with a bright smile.
“I envy you, Madison. This is so cool,”
I sighed and wondered why so many people had come to collect me. I’ve always fancied a life of fantasy so maybe it was time to live it.
We made it to the living room where Michael and the Worthingtons or should I say my parents were seated. Again, there was another batch of maidens and guards who lowered their heads when we appeared.
My parents stood up and I immediately recognized the woman. She flashed a smile, a knowing smile and I reciprocated.
My father, a man in his late fifties draped in the finest robe walked up to me and took my face into his palms majestically.
“You’re just like your mother. I.,,
Tears began to spill from his eyes. He turned and took a step backward My mother immediately walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
He moved to a corner and began to sob.
She turned to me. “He’s been waiting for this moment all his life so pardon him for being so emotional,”
I smiled. “We must let out all emotions. They are not meant to be held inside,” I turned to Michael. “A wise therapist once told me that,”
Michael sighed and looked away.
My mother smiled brightly. “Look at you. A proper lady. You speak wise things,”
“Let’s have breakfast,” Michael said, clearing his throat loudly.
“Of course,” my mother said and took my hand like a giddy child.
I turned around but there was no glimpse of Georgia.
At the dining table, my parents took turns to ask about my favorite foods, colors, and hobbies. I responded with a single phrase or two.
There were a lot of dishes spread on the table. It felt as if we were having a banquet but when you’re hosting a noble family, one must go all out so Michael understood the assignment.
However, the food seemed to taste bland, or maybe my emotions had corrupted it. I tried to look at Michael but I noticed that he had been trying not to look at me.
He was discussing politics with my father whose warm brown eyes kept lingering on me.
My mother reached for my hand from the table. “Ignore these men and their boring talks. Now that you’re here, Eleanor. I would have company,”
I cleared my throat loudly and then rolled my eyes around. “Company? Looks like you’ve got a lot already,”
She giggled. “I don’t downgrade them but they are servants who must know their place. One must know when to draw the line especially if you’re a noble. And besides, what more company will I have more than my child’s?”
“None!” I replied.
“What are you two fussing about?” My father asked.
I turned to him with a smile. “Nothing, Papa!”
I saw his eyes melt and then stars emerge. He turned to my mother. “Did you hear that?”
I lowered my head. The truth is, I’ve been practicing.
My mother squeezed my hand “He’s been longing to hear that for about twenty right years now,”
My father nodded repeatedly and pulled out a napkin to dab on his teary eyes. I guess now I know where I got my overwhelming emotions from.
“Now my turn. Call me mama,” my mother said.
We laughed. All of us, except Michael.
\~~~~
Michael’s POV
“It’s time,” I announced.
Madison and her parents were huddled on the largest couch in the living room. We have just finished having breakfast and I’ve gone to check if Georgia had collected everything and it turns out she did.
The trio stood up and again, Madison tried to look at me but I quickly looked away.
Maybe when she’s gone, I can be myself but right now, the show must go on. I must let her see that leaving was the best option and I was willing to let her go.
But isn’t that the best option?
I led them out of the living room to the front of the house. Madison stopped in her tracks when she saw the fleet of cars lined up from the entrance to the gate.
I’m sure she was stunned but she had no idea who her parents were and what they owned. She was the daughter of one of the most powerful and richest families in London. She was Royal material.
I told all my servants especially Georgia to remain at bay. I wouldn’t want this to be an emotional moment for her and if I didn’t have to, I would have stayed hidden too.
I walked up to Lord Worthington. “Time to leave,”
Madison was standing beside him with her mother.
He stretched a hand toward me. “Thank you so much, Michael. My family and I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done. I hope someday, we get to repay you for your kindness,”
I shook him and then turned to Madison. “Nothing is too much for an old friend,”
She immediately looked away.
Her mother stepped forward. “Perhaps you can drop by our house for tea whenever you’re in London. Ferdinand knows our place and speaking of Ferdinand, where is he?” She rolled her eyes.
I cleared my throat loudly. “I sent him on an errand,”
She nodded.
“I’ll drop by someday,” I faked a smile.
Some of the servants were already settled in the other cars while the ones who would be riding with the royal family were waiting for them to get into the limo.
“Your ride awaits,” I hinted.
Lady Worthington held Madison. “Let’s get you home, dear,”
I took a step backward and watched her enter the car. Her parents followed and then the few remaining servants joined them.
The cars began to leave the residence one after the other. I lifted my hand and waved at the departing limo. When the car vanished out of the house, the people I had asked to stay at bay emerged.
“I knew you all were hiding,” I turned around.
Georgia was now crying uncontrollably.
“Don’t be dramatic, Georgia. She was going to leave after having the baby anyway,” I said.
“We didn’t even get the chance to tell her a proper goodbye,” Stevie said.
“Sometimes, we don’t always get what we want,” I replied and went into the house.